International Nurses Day
International Nurses Day is celebrated all across the world on May 12. It is also known as Nurses Day and was created by the International Council of Nurses in 1974 to honor the commendable work done by nurses.
The council chose May 12 as Nurses Day because it was the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale and also marked the end of National Nurses Week which starts on May 6.
Why Was This Day Formed
The International Council Of Nurses started celebrating International Nurses Day in 1965. However, it did not catch public attention until 1974.
President Nixon officially proclaimed the formation of National Nurse Week in February 1974. To quote his statement, he said :
"For their dedication and for their constantly expanding skills, which are doing so much to improve the health of America, nurses merit the highest measure of personal and professional regard."
After National Nurse Week was officially recognized, the International Council of Nurses made a proclamation similar to the formal creation of International Nurses Day.
How To Celebrate Nurses Day
The aim of International Nurses Day is to raise awareness and challenge political leaders to make positive amendments for both nurses and patients.
This event has especially been significant in recent years as it highlights the struggles and pressures nurses go through especially after the pandemic. It has also caused an extraordinary demand to train and recruit more nurses.
There is a theme every year. The theme for 2022 was "Nurses: A Voice to Lead - Invest In Nursing and Respect Rights To Secure Global Health" in response to COVID-19. It focused on the global recovery from the pandemic.
The Nurses Day Theme For 2023 is "Our Nurses Our Future". It would be a global campaign to find out what the future of nursing looks like, what are the needs, and how that will help to improve global health.
